THE 2022 SEASON

I believe some of the players, U18s and Reserves started training at Ottoway last night.
Seniors to start 13 Dec. at Ottoway.

They started tonight.

Went to training last night.
Ottoway surface much improved from last season.
Jarrad Allmond and Mitch Duval trained along with quite a few other senior players (Knights, Sinor, Goldsworthy. Comma and Haylock).
Connor Ballenden was supposed to come down and do some training before Xmas and then go home for the Xmas break but because SA is now a dirty State, Connor would have had to under take several iso periods, will now come down after Xmas.
Trent Burgoyne's family is mulling over the situation of where he will play.
Not a big loss if he doesn't play for the Eagles in my opinion.
Good to see many ex U18s at training including talls, Jordan Lukac, Lukas Cooke and Zac Phillips. Luke Beecken and Max Litster also trained. The new mid-field coach was also there.
The players were split in to three groups, running and two different skills groups.
In the running it was good to see Kobe Mutch, Jarrad Allmond and Dane McFarlane leading their running groups, in particular Mutch and Allmond looked extremely fit.
Full player training starts next Monday.

Your a great asset for us all. Keep the good work up. I never get an opportunity to view training and your pieces are inciteful.
The U18's players excite me. Lucky we did not loose Luca and Cooke.

Like Goddy said wimpy
Macfarlane isn’t playing in the NT this year good

Thanks "goddy 11".

Forgot to mention at this stage the league men and women plan to play in Darwin at the end of January if border crossings are favourable.

Went to training tonight at Grange Oval. Ballenden is down from Brisbane and will be training with us till the Xmas break then going back to Brisbane. Will then move down permanently after the Xmas break. Looked rather tall at training.
A surprise player at training was Seb Guilhaus, looking just as enthusiastic as usual.

Again went to training last night. Not much to report. The Grange complex gives a very large area to train on. Much more space than Ottoway.
Mattaes Phillipou looked very good especially in the one on ones where his hands were very good. At 6'3" he could become an excellent utility player.

How is Mattaes Phillipou for pace ? His father Sam never inherited his father Peter's superb pace. Hopefully, it just missed a generation and has returned in Mattaes. Phillipou football family always had good skills.

He's definitely quicker than Sam but at 6'3" he's not overly quick. At 16 y.o. his body strength is very good with one on one situations excellent. Adam D'Aloia and Mattaes have to start in the reserves at least and could be possible X-factors in the league team during the 2022 season.

The Darwin match is still on. The players leave this Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon. Both the women and men play Saturday afternoon.
Just my feeling is that the men's team will field quite a few youngsters and new comers with a sprinkling of experience. A good chance to find out what we have in the way of good youngsters.

Is Guilhaus  training for his own fitness and a friendly gesture by the Club to one of its past players, or is he serious at making a comeback? Must be 34 years plus. Saw him playing in NTFL a year ago and still showed ruck craft (in a lesser competition, of course). As a backup ruck insurance playing in the 2nds, he might be OK. Compared to Westie, Guilhaus might be better with bodywork in the ruck contests but not as good in general field play. Maybe the Darwin match might just sort out where he stands. Just hope Reddo can stay fit (with help from Ballenden). Young Phillips appears to be a couple of years away unless he has put on 12kg over Summer.

I believe Seb is serious. Handy back up. Don't think he will go to Darwin, just hasn't done enough work. A late starter to pre-season. West injured only doing laps.

wimpy wrote:The Darwin match is still on. The players leave this Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon. Both the women and men play Saturday afternoon.
Just my feeling is that the men's team will field quite a few youngsters and new comers with a sprinkling of experience. A good chance to find out what we have in the way of good youngsters.

Hope the game is televised. Hawke seemed to have last years viewing times and channel. Wouldn't this be good on C7. I am sure it would rate.

Can't find anywhere online re NITV coverage or live streaming of the match. The NTFL Cazaly Rep squad for the match was selected 18th Dec (approx) so they're taking it pretty seriously.
Eagles supporters might be interested that Nick Yarran (St Marys) is selected in squad. Nick played in our Juniors and 4-5 League games approx 3-4 years ago. Eagles supporters can always hope that the match fosters goodwill and interest amongst the Darwin boys such that their best might be tempted to give us a try - might be a Tyson Stengle forward pocket type to help us out !!! Dane MacFarlane might be a useful ambassador since Tsitas won't be up there.
Anyway, might be worthwhile checking NITV program each day from Saturday to Wed night (often has replays delayed by 3 days)

(refer to other topic "Eagles vs NTFL")

Out of curiosity, wanted to check Sam Nicholls height but couldn't see it listed.
Noticed Zac Buck's is listed as 172cm

Sam Nicholls from Mintaro Manoora. DoB 7/06/2003.
171 cm and 68kgs.
Not fast but very clever, kicks goals with either foot and crumbs well.

Not many players make it in SANFL at 171cm especially if they're not quick. Good luck to Sam, and to Zac Buck (who has got some zip)

I believe Jack Hayes is now a Saint.
At Gold Coast, of the four vying for one spot it is now down to two, Freeman and Tsitas.

wimpy wrote:I believe Jack Hayes is now a Saint.
At Gold Coast, of the four vying for one spot it is now down to two, Freeman and Tsitas.

I hope he gets a game not just languish in the VFL (if in fact it IS played due to covid). Probably lose Tsitas as well because he is a gun and would do well in the AFL. Would be a star for Gold Coast cause they're ordinary

Was reading on Bigfooty that a gold coast podcast mentioned that they are favouring Freeman at this stage

MichaelScott wrote:Was reading on Bigfooty that a gold coast podcast mentioned that they are favouring Freeman at this stage

For our clubs sake I hope so

I'm hoping Sheedy releases Beecken from the backlines (especially from deep in back pocket) and plays him in the midfield or wing. Reckon he could developer into an exciting game -changer with his run and carry, kicks long goals running through HF and gets his own footy, makes good decisions hand and foot. But I'm selfish like you are and hope Tsitas comes back as well.

Pudney looked pretty good on-ball as well. Hasn’t he improved his game over the last 18 months!? That would free up a wing for Beecken.